Lisa Buckley, formerly Wagamama’s operations director, is taking on the role of chief retail officer at Brewdog, succeeding a recent leadership transition.
Lisa Buckley has been appointed as the new chief retail officer at Brewdog, marking a significant leadership change for the company. Her appointment follows the recent departure of James Brown, Brewdog’s former chief executive, who left the company to pursue a new role at Prezzo, an Italian restaurant chain.
Buckley brings a wealth of experience to Brewdog, having previously served as CEO of Leisure TV Rights, an immersive TV programme company. Her impressive career portfolio includes senior roles at various food companies, such as Wagamama, where she excelled as the UK operations director, and Côte Brasserie, serving as managing director. She has also held influential positions within the Tragus Group and Casual Dining Group, overseeing prominent restaurant brands like Bella Italia and Café Rouge.
Starting her new role in January, Buckley will report directly to the newly appointed CEO, James Arrow. Her primary responsibility will be to oversee Brewdog’s global retail operations, ensuring the hospitality venues align with the company’s growth and profitability targets.
James Arrow, the current CEO, expressed enthusiasm about Buckley’s appointment, stating, “I’m focused on hiring exceptional new talent into the business and strengthening our leadership team, and I’m thrilled Lisa will be joining us. She brings an incredible array of hospitality experience and is a critical hire as we evolve as a brand, develop our crew and customer offer, scale globally, and importantly drive profitability across our business. Lisa shares our passion for people, beer, and the planet, and I’m looking forward to welcoming her to our senior leadership team.”
This leadership change occurs as Brewdog faces financial challenges, having recorded an operating loss of nearly £60 million in the first half of the year, despite a slight increase in grocery sales of 2%. James Watt, co-founder, described these financial results as “frustrating”.
Lisa Buckley’s addition to Brewdog’s leadership team signals a strategic move aimed at revitalising the company’s retail presence and addressing financial setbacks.
